Big Yummy Italian Salad

Ingredients:

• For the Salad:
  • 1 head of romaine lettuce, chopped
  • 1 cup cherry tomatoes, halved
  • 1 cucumber, sliced
  • 1 red bell pepper, sliced
  • 1/4 red onion, thinly sliced
  • 1/2 cup black olives, sliced
  • 1/2 cup pepperoncini peppers, sliced
  • 1/4 cup grated Parmesan cheese
  • 1/2 cup salami, sliced into strips (optional)
  • 1/2 cup mozzarella cheese balls or cubed mozzarella
  • 1/4 cup croutons (optional)
• For the Dressing:
  • 1/4 cup extra virgin olive oil
  • 2 tablespoons red wine vinegar
  • 1 tablespoon lemon juice
  • 1 teaspoon Dijon mustard
  • 1 garlic clove, minced
  • 1 teaspoon dried oregano
  • 1/2 teaspoon dried basil
  • Salt and pepper to taste

Instructions:

1. Prepare the Salad Ingredients:
   • Wash and chop the romaine lettuce. Place it in a large salad bowl.
   • Add the halved cherry tomatoes, sliced cucumber, red bell pepper, red onion, black olives, and pepperoncini peppers to the bowl.
   • If using, add the sliced salami and mozzarella cheese balls or cubes.
   • Sprinkle the grated Parmesan cheese over the top.
   • Add croutons if desired.
2. Make the Dressing:
   • In a small bowl or a jar with a lid, combine the extra virgin olive oil, red wine vinegar, lemon juice, Dijon mustard, minced garlic, dried oregano, and dried basil.
   • Whisk or shake until the dressing is well combined and emulsified.
   • Season with salt and pepper to taste.
3. Dress the Salad:
   • Just before serving, pour the dressing over the salad. Toss everything together until the ingredients are evenly coated with the dressing.
4. Serve:
   • Serve immediately and enjoy your Big Yummy Italian Salad!

Tips:

• Feel free to customize the salad with your favorite Italian ingredients such as artichoke hearts, roasted red peppers, or prosciutto.
• You can make the dressing ahead of time and store it in the refrigerator for up to a week. Just give it a good shake before using.
• For a vegetarian version, omit the salami.

Enjoy your Big Yummy Italian Salad!